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Murphy, Henry Morgan (1860–1944)

The death occurred on Monday at a private hospital in Melbourne of Mr Henry Morgan Murphy, a former Secretary for Labour in Victoria. He was 84. Born in South Yarra, Mr Murphy was the son of the late Mr H. M. Murphy, who was a member of the Legislative Council from 1864 to 1873, and of the late Mrs E. M. Murphy. Entering the State civil service in 1878, Mr Murphy was appointed a police magistrate in 1904, and six years later became chief inspector of factories. Directed in 1914 by the State Ministry to visit all other States and New Zealand to inquire into the working of strike prevention laws, Mr Murphy submitted a valuable report on anti-strike legislation the following year. This included recommendations for such legislation in Victoria, and was considered by Ministers to be one of the most lucid and best-considered reports ever presented by a Government official. When the factories branch was converted into the Labour Department Mr Murphy became Secretary for Labour. Mr Murphy's wife and one daughter predeceased him. He is survived by three daughters.